‘Save and grow’ is a concept of sustainable crop production intensification that aims to improve base agricultural production mainly by improving natural resource management. Over the last 30 years, ‘save and grow’ has been promoted as a development practice by international development organizations and local farmers in many Sub-Saharan African societies. An interesting example of this is the IFAD-funded ‘Promoting Local Initiative for Development in Aguié Project’ (PPILDA) currently implemented in the South Maradi Region of Niger. Drawing on the PPILDA experience, this note examines circumstances that have made it possible to shift from low yield extensive agriculture to intensive and sustainable farming. This learning note also raises the question of factors that favor the large-scale adoption and diffusion of socio-economic and technical innovations.